ABOUT
Montreal Improv is an organization dedicated to promoting the artform of improv and all forms of comedic expression.
The original company, founded in 2008 presented improv classes and shows to thousands of patrons, students and performers, in both English and in French. It was chosen as one of the city’s favourite comedy venues by readers of Cult MTL on multiple occasions and hosted festivals such as Mprov, Montreal Fringe and the world-famous Just For Laughs’ OFF-JFL.
Now under new leadership, the new Montreal Improv is once again a hub for working comedians, aspiring performers and some of the very best comedic talent in the country.
LOCATIONS & ACCESSIBILITY
Montreal Improv classes take at either 3706 or 3716 rue Notre-Dame Ouest. Both spaces are below ground.
Montreal Improv’s shows take place at 3716 rue Notre Dame Ouest.
These spaces are unfortunately not wheelchair accessible. Persons entering and exiting are required to climb up and down a flight of stairs with a handrail. Washrooms require a step up and do not have wheelchair accessible stalls.
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
MÉLANIE MC CRAE (SHE/HER), OWNER, OPERATIONS MANAGER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Mel is a performer, writer, and producer. Her professional background is in public administration. She began taking improv classes in 2019, as a student, and performer, eventually forming troupes and performing with the house team.
Mélanie joined the Montreal Improv staff in 2022 as Associate Producer, creating kid-friendly improv shows such as Panda Recess and, Grinch-mas: Storytime With The Grinch, as well as Improv Against Humanity and Parce Que Why Not.
She also enjoys writing and performing sketch comedy, and has appeared in Montreal Sketchfest and Changer les règles: a bloody good show, to name a few.
Mel has been a fixture in Montreal’s comedy scene for years, and we look forward to her enthusiastic leadership at Montreal Improv.
SARAH ELLIS (SHE/HER), EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Sarah has a background in film/multimedia as a freelance technician, having worked in that field after graduating from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. After a stint in management and operations coordination in various fields, she’s back in the arts. You can find her regularly performing improv and sketch at various venues across town. She has performed in Montreal and Toronto, having recently completed a successful run during Montreal Fringe Fest.
KYLE ALLATT (HE/HIM), LEAD TECHNICIAN
Kyle is an improv performer, theatrical technician, and professional actor. After working exclusively as an actor for almost 20 years, Kyle decided to step behind the desk and start fiddling with the lights and sound, including working as Technical Director for the previous Montreal Improv for over 6 years. He’s performed on stage and screen in cities such as Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Halifax, Saint John, Charlottetown, Calgary, Hartford, and New York, to name a few.
MELISSA GIACOMINI (SHE/HER), STUDENT SHOW PRODUCER
Melissa (she/her) is a clown, improviser, writer, sketch comedian, and artist originally from Tkaronto/Toronto.
Melissa is a co-creator/producer of “This & That: An Improv and Sketch Comedy Show," producer of a new comedy variety show, “The Service,” co-facilitator of the sketch & clown workshopping space, "The Shop," and an associate coordinator/behind-the-scenes supporter of Ladyfest Montreal (2022 & 2023).
As a performer, Melissa has been part of Montreal Sketchfest, Ladyfest Montreal, The Ottawa Improv Festival, MProv Festival (Montreal), Toronto Haroldfest and the Big City Improv Festival (Toronto).
TEACHING STAFF
DALE BERNIER
Dale, a versatile individual, has served as an improviser, teacher, and coach at Montreal Improv for over ten years. He has showcased his talent in both Canada and the US with various troupes. Notably, his Monoscene trio, "After This We're Going To Tokyo," emerged victorious in the Threepio competition and, more recently, in the "Head To Head" Competition Show, as well as his team Succulents! won the "Hot Shots" Competition in 2021.
Dale imparts his expertise to students of all levels, excelling particularly in Game Of The Scene, Premise Based Improv (Harold/Armando), and the Grounded/Slice-Of-Life Monoscene format. Additionally, he is the creative force behind "Troubadour" and "No Laughing Matter," two immensely popular and consistently sold-out shows at Montreal Improv Theatre.
SEHAR MANJI
Born and raised in Nairobi, Sehar is a veteran improvisor, turned professional actor, writer, comedian and instructor. She began improvising with Montreal Improv in 2010 and was among the first few women of colour improvisors – and notably the first South-Asian improvisor – on Montreal stages for several years. One thing led to another, and improv opened doors to sketch comedy, storytelling, standup comedy, and eventually writing and acting.
Sehar’s appeared in various local festivals (MPROV, Montreal Sketchfest, Ladyfest, Montreal Fringe, Just For Laughs/OFF-JFL, POP Montreal) as well as festivals in Toronto (The Big City Improv Festival and JFL42), New York (The Del Close Marathon) and was a member of the International Ensemble at the Vancouver International Improv Festival (VIIF) for three consecutive years. In 2018, Sehar was part of CBC's Kim's Convenience Emerging Writers' Room workshop, collaborating with the show’s creator and showrunner, Ins Choi and Kevin White.
Sehar has been teaching improv since 2016 and also holds key roles as Montreal Improv’s House Team Program Coordinator and Education Specialist, spearheading the teacher training program. You can learn more about her diverse body of work, creative path, and unique approach on her website, seharmanji[dot]com.
MONIKA SCHNEIDER
Monika is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) with a B.F.A. in Acting and was awarded outstanding actress in her graduating class. After writing and touring her one woman show, she moved to New York City where she performed in a variety of plays including another one woman show at the acclaimed theatre P.S. 122. She has now made her home in Montreal as an actor, improviser, and instructor. She performs regularly at Montreal Improv and Theatre VME.
She has performed in several productions including Kevin McDonald does improv with the best of MTL, Films in Focus, and Shakespeare with a Vengeance. She was part of Montreal Improv’s Narrative House Team and Bilingual House Team, the Shakespeare inspired duo Nonny Nonny, the narrative duo Attaboy, the Harold troupe Messhall, and the 2022 Threepio champion duo team The Actor’s Lounge. Past festivals include OFF JFL/Zoofest, Ladyfest, MPROV, Hartford, and the Big Pond Improv Festival. Fun fact: she’s a twin!
JOE CONTO
Joe Conto has been with Montreal Improv Theatre since 2009; first as a student and then as a performer and instructor. He has taught classes at all levels of experience as well as classic improv formats such as The Harold, Armando, Pretty Flower, and La Ronde.
He has performed at festivals in New York City, Toronto, Ottawa, Boston, and Burlington and has studied under improv notables Armando Diaz, Jill Bernard, Will Hines, Joe Bill, and Kirsten Rasmussen.
Joe Conto continues to teach in Montreal while employed as a Professor of Business Management, Tourism & Hospitality with Paul Smith’s College located in the Adirondacks of New York State.
LAURA BUCHANAN
Laura Buchanan is an actor, writer and director from North Vancouver, BC. Laura has a BFA in Theatre from Concordia University and has trained with Upright Citizen’s Brigade (LA), The Groundlings (LA), and The Idiot Workshop (LA).
Some of Laura’s performance credits include: Just For Laughs, OFF-JFL, Vancouver International Improv Festival, Big City Improv (Toronto), Big Pond (Vermont), Del Close Marathon (NYC), Montreal Sketchfest, and Montreal Fringe.
KADI DIOP
Kadi Diop (elle/she) is a bilingual improviser, improv teacher and general silly goose. She's played at OFF-JFL, Zoofest, the Black and Funny Improv Festival among others and loves to create intentional moments of community on and off stage. She also loves cats.
STEFAN SPEC
Stefan has been performing, teaching and coaching improv for over 10 years. Most notably he has been a second place finisher multiple times in the big local improv competition (and also his troupe won it once).
On teams such as Succulents, Blood & Thunder and Imploding, he has performed in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Hartford, Detroit, Vancouver, Austin, Tokyo and at a burrito restaurant.
As a teacher Stefan is detail oriented and wants to impart to his students the value of making choices based on beliefs, recognizing and playing the game of the scene and how to keep the scene going even when you think you have run out of ideas.
DANIELLE DAVIDSON
Danielle is a performing artist and movement designer, working primarily in experimental and collaborative improvised dance and theater forms. She has worked as an arts administrator, educator, consultant, choreographer, performer, producer and director in the performing arts industry for over 20 years, including at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, AS220, Doppelgänger Dance Collective, Productions Fila 13, Prometheus Dance Company, Opera Ontario and Bridge Repertory Theater.
She obtained her DEC from l'École Supérieure de Ballet du Québec / Cégep du Vieux Montréal in 2001, and continued her training in the performing arts by completing a three-year program at George Brown College in Theatre/Acting. Danielle teaches workshops, classes and laboratories throughout North America in movement and performance practice. Currently, she is the administrative assistant for Variations Mile End & Mile End Improv / Theatre VME, and teaches movement and improvisation at several institutions, including Mile End Improv, House of Actors, and Impro Montréal.
MARIANA VIAL
Mariana is an improv performer, teacher, coach and lifelong fan. She got her start in 1999 with the Canadian Improv Games and has carried the fundamentals of teamwork, story-telling and committing to the moment with her ever since.
Through the years you may have seen her in any show that would have her, festivals like Ladyfest Montreal, MProv, Big City Improv Festival, and troupes like the narrative troupe Girl Talk, the Montreal Improv House Team Helmut, Boston-based short form troupe Kitsch In Sync and the musical improv troupe The Jazz Ands.
She's so grateful to be able to share her love of improv with this awesome community.
CONTACT
Email info@montrealimprov.com
Got a question regarding classes? Check out our frequently asked questions page!